Reel stand



Dec. 15, 1931. B, H, REEVES 1,836,815

ador/mq B. H. REEVES Dec. 15, 1931.

REEL STAND Filed NOV. 5, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 abtozmq Dec. 15, 1931.

B. Hv REEVES REEL STAND 5 shets-sheet s Filed Nov. 5, 1925 Hummm attozwzq Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE BEAUFORD H. REEVES, 0F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, lASSIGNOB. T0 ROCKBESTOS PMDUCTS CORPORTION, 0F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT REEL STAND Application led November 5, 1926. Serial No. 146,430.

This invention relates to reel supports or stands, and more especially to those that are adapted to support reels of a type that are suitable to receive electrical conductors or cables from machines Whereon the conductors or cables are produced, formed or otherwise Worked. Such reels are generally large and cumbersome, and even when empty are, in many cases, too heavy to be readily handled by the operators of the machines from which the cable or wire is collected. Various sizes of reels are used in conjunction with the same machine, the size being largely vdependent upon the size and quantity of cable desired, and, therefore, it is desirable that the reel stand be adjustable to t the reel'to be used.

Generally, the reel used will be rotatably mounted at one end of the machine and must, therefore, be lifted off the floor and supported above it While being used, and after use, lowered to the floor and rolled away. Such operations are laborsome and time consuming, especially in cases where the reel and con tained wire or cable is exceptionally heavy. It is desirable, therefore, that a reel stand be provided which will be adapted to be easily and readily adjusted to a reel of any required size, both as to width and diameter, to raise the same above the ioor level, to rotatably support the same, and to permit the reel to be lowered again to the floor level withoutv undue exertion on the part of the operator, in a manner not requiring time consuming op* erations.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved reel supporting structure which will be efficient in use and comparatively economical to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved reel stand by the use of which a reel may be engaged at the ioor level, raised above the ioor level and rotatably supported in its raised position without undue exertion on the part of the operator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for a reel stand whereby the engaged and rotatably supported reel may be lowered to the floor level and disengaged from the stand.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable reel supporting structure which may be adapted to receive reels of various sizes with respect to their diameters or widths or both at the ioor level, to raise the same free from the floor and to rotatably Support them in their raised position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a reel stand with means to guide the wire or cable or the like being collected from a machine, to insure an even distribution thereof on the reel.

A still further object of this invention is to provide improved means for rotating or rotatably engaging, or both, the reel when so supported and for connecting the reel or the rotating means engaging the same with a source of power.

To these and other ends, this invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a reel support I or st and, embodying the features of my in` vent1on;

fFig. 2 is a right hand side elevation there- 0 l Fig. 3 is a left hand side elevation thereof, showing the position of certain parts when the reel is raised and supported above the floor level;

Fig. 4 is a left hand side elevation showing the position of certain parts thereof, when the reel is in lowered position and resting upon the floor;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the reel stand shown in the preceding figures;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

gig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 5, an

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

The particular device selected vto illustrate the features of this invention generally comprises a base plate l0, upon which are suitably mounted side frames 11 and 12, which support a -reel arbor 13 and a wire or cable guiding device 14. The'base plate 10 is adapted to rest upon the oor, and is provided with side extensions 15 and '16, upon which the side frames 11 and 12 respectively, are sup- ,upwardly from the base 10, and are each ro- 'vided with a cut away portion 17, w ich forms an upper outwardly extending arm 18, and a lower outwardly extending arm 19.

A pair of vertically disposed rods 20 and 21 pass through openings 22 in the upper arm and openings 23 in the lower arm, and are joined together above the upper arm 18 by a strap 24 and below the lower arm 19 by a strap 25 thereby forming what will be hereinafter termed an auxiliary frame.. The straps 24 and 25 are secured to the rods by means of nuts 38 which threadingly engage the reduced ends of the respective rods. The straps 25 are provided with pivot pin openings 26, through each of which a pivot pin 27 passes and pivotally connects an end. of a rocking lever 28 to the respective strap. Each of the rocking levers 28 is pivotally secured to the respective side frame by a pivot pin 29, which passes through the lever and into a depending lug 37 secured to or integral with the side frame. Rotative movement of the rocking lever 28 slides the rods 20 and 21 upwardly or downwardly, within the openings 22 and 23, in the arms 18 and 19 respectively, of the side frames 11 and 12 whereby thedauxiliary frames will be raised or lowere A shaft 30 extends transversely across the device from one side frame to the other, and is journaled in lugs 31 depending from the side arms. Keyed to the shaft 30 are a pair of camming members 32, which are arranged axially thereon in suitable position to engage respectively an end 33 of each rocking lever 28. A lever arm 34 is keyed to the shaft 30 at one end thereof by which the shaft may be rotated. By the `engagement of the cam surfaces 35 of the camming members 32 with the surface 36 on the lever end 33 of the rocking levers, the levers may be rotated to move the auxiliary frame.

A carrier 40 is slidingly mounted upon each pair of rods 20 and 21 of the auxiliary frames. The carriers are adjustable axially upon these rods by means of adjusting screws 41 rotatably mounted in the straps 24. The screws 41 extend downwardly through openings 42 in the upper arms 18, and threadingly engage the carrier 40; The screws 41 are rotatable by means of the hand wheels 43, one of which is secured to each screw. An outwardly extending arm 44 projects from the front'face of each carrier 40, and forms a bearing member for the reel arbor 13, each arm 44 being provided with a half journal 45 which is formed in and open at the upwardly directed face of each arm whereby it may readily receive the reel arbor therein.

The reel arbor 13 extends across the frames 11 and 12 and is journaled in the half journals 45. The arbor 13 is provided with a slidable collar 46, which is, in this instance,

secured to the arbor by. means of a set screw 47. An adjustable dog 48 is secured to the arbor 13 by a suitable means, such as a set screw 49, and an end clutch sleeve 51 'is secured to the arbor by means of a key 52. The adjustable dog 48 is provided with an arm 53, in which an elongated opening 54 is provided. Secured to the arm53 of the dog 48 is a stud 55, which is radially slidable relatively to the axis of the arbor 13, within the opening 54, and is adapted to be secured to the arm 53 by means of a nut 56 which threadingly engages an end of the stud to draw a collar portion 57 thereof into clamping engagement with the arm. The stud 55 is adapted to enter an opening which is provided in the end flanges of a reel 58. The reel 58 is secured upon the arbor 13 for rotating movement therewith, due to the engagement of the stud 55 therewith, and is retained in such engagement by means of the collar 46. The clutch sleeve 51 is provided with end clutch teeth 59, which are adapted to be engaged by corresponding teeth 60 upon a clutch member 61, which is secured by means of a key 62 upon the end of a shaft 63. The shaft 63 is journaled in a bearing 64 provided in a bracket 65, eX- tending outwardly from the side of one of the carriers 40. The shaft 63 is axially slidable through the bearing 64. The outer end of shaft 63 is slidably keyed to a sleeve like end plate 66, which is fastened to the end face of a hub 67, of a gear 68, by means of bolts 69. rl`he gear 68 is rotatably mounted upon a stud 70 formed upon the bracket 65, the gear 68 being retained on the stud 70 by means of a plate 71 secured to the end of the studby means of screws 72. A sprocket wheel 73 is rotatably secured to an inner hub 74 formed upon the gear 68.

The clutch member 61 is provided with a peripheral groove 75 in which an interior peripheral rib 76 of a clutch operating sleeve 77 is engaged. The periphery of the operating sleeve 77 is provided with a pair of spiral slots 78 and 79 in which the ends of set screws 80 and 81 respectively, are engaged, the set screws 8O and 81 being threaded through portions of the bracket 65. A handle bar 82 is secured to the operating sleeve 77, extending outwardly therefrom. By manipulating the handle bar 82 to rotate the operating sleeve 77 upon the clutch member 61, the cooperating clutch teeth 60 of the member 61, and the clutch teeth 59 of the sleeve 51, may be engaged or disengaged, due to the cooperation of the spiral slots 78 and 79 with the set screws 80 and 81, respectively. The cooperation of the slots 78 and 79 with the screws 80 and 81 respectively, causes the shaft 63 to slide axially, which movement moves the clutch member 61 toward or away from the clutch sleeve 51. For convenience in assembling the clutch operating sleeve 77 upon the clutch member 61, it is made in halves, which are bolted together by bolts 83 Journaled upon a stud shaft 84, which is secured to the bracket 65, is a inion 85, which meshes with the gear 68. ecured to the pinion 85 is a sprocket 86 which is driven by meansof al chain 87 from any suitable source of power, and preferably in timed relation with the discharge of the completed product, such as a cable or the like, from an insulating or malng machine. Generally, such machines are provided with a windlass (not shown), to insure that the product when passing through the machine will be kept taut, and in such instances, the reel should be driven in timed relation with the windlass. The cable or wire guiding device 14 is of any suitable -form and is mounted upon the cross frame 90, which extends across the frames l1 and 12. The device 14 generally comprises a pair of vertically disposed rollers 91 and 92, mounted upon a base 93, which is threadingly engaged by the screw 94. The screw 94 is journaled at 95 and 96 in brackets 97 and 98 respectively, being power driven by means of a chain 99, sprocket wheel 100 and suitable clutch mechanism 101 from sprocket wheel 73, which is secured to the gear 68. The chain 99 is retainedoperatively taut between the sprocket wheels 100 and A73, by means of a gravity actuated idler wheel 109, mounted upon an arm 110,V pivoted to the frame 12 at 111. A suitable reversing mechanism 102 is provided, including means to rotate the screw 94 manually by manipulation of a hand wheel y103. The reversing mechanism 102 is operated by the engagement of an outwardly extending arm 104 on the base 93, with a pair of collars 105 and 106 adjustably securable upon a shifting bar 107, by set screws 108. A cable or wire threaded between the rollers 91 and 92 and over the reel 58, will be evenly wound upon the reel bythe to and fro movement of the rollers 91 and 92, across the face of the reel, the collars 105 and 106 being positioned upon the bar 107, and spaced apart thereon a' distance corresponding to the' width of the reel face between the side flanges thereof.

The device of this invention is generally set upon the floor adjacent the end of the machine from. which` thev completed wire, cable, rope or the like, is being taken. An emptyreel 58 is rolled or otherwise brought to the device, and an arbor 13 .is passed through a central opening 112 and secured to the reel by positioning the collar 46 thereon in suchl a manner that the reel will be clamped against the dog 48 with the stud in engagement with kthe adjacent vreelfiange. The carriers 40fare lowered by the manipulation of the lever 34 to rotate the camming members 32 into the position shown in Fig.4 whereby the rocking lever allows -and due to the the auxiliary frames to slide downwardly. The reel 58 may then be rolled into the position as shown in Fig. 4, thus placing the arbor 13 directly over the half journals 45. In case it was necessary to lower the carriers 40, the hand wheels 43 would be manipulated to move the same downwardly upon the rods 20 and 21 a sufficient distance to allow the arbor 13 to clear the outwardly projecting arms 44. The lever 34 is then swung downwardly to a position asshown in Fig. 3, which action raises the carriers 40, whereby the arms 44 thereof will engage the arbor 13 in the half journal 45 thereof, and the reel 58 will be raised from the Hoor. The reel is now rotatably supported abo've the floor, and the cable 113 from the cable making machine or the like, is threaded between the rollers 91 and 92, and secured to the reel.

Manipulation of the clutch operating lever .82 to engage the teeth 60 ofthe clutch mem.-

ber 61, with the teeth 59 of the clutch sleeve 51, secured to the arbor 13, rotatably connects the reel to the gear 68. A Wire 0r cable will novi7 be wound upon the reel 58. During this operation the cable is guided by the guiding device 14 whereby it is evenly distributed across the face of the reel 58. When the reel is filled, or a desired amount of cable is wound thereon, the clutch operating lever 82 is manipulated to release the clutch, which stops the rotation thereof. The lever 34 is then raised to a position as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the reel will be lowered to the floor disengagement of the arbor 13 from the arms- 44 is free to be rolled away. Reels of various diameters may be supported by this device. The provision of a slip collar 46 on the arbor 13 provides for the difference in width of various reels. The adjustmentmade possible by the screw 41 which raises or lowers the carriers 40 relatively to the rods 20 and 21 of the auxiliary frames, permits the device to-receive, support, and lower reels of different diameters. While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is not tobe limited thereto in all of its details, as many modifications and variations are possible which will lie within the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: i

l. A reel stand comprising a frame member, a reel arbor, a pair of carriers vertically slidable on said frame and adapted to removably engage the ends of said arbor to rotatably receive the same, means to simultaneously raise and lower said carriers, means to individually raise and lower t-he same, and means secured t0 said carriers at one end of said arbor to rotate thesame, and including means to drivingly connect and disconnect said arbor rotating means with said. ar-

bor when said arbor is rotatably received by said carriers.

2. In a reel stand, a pair of vertically slidable frame members, an arbor bearing member slidably mounted upon each of said frame members, a rocker arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to each of said frame members, and means to rock said arms in unison to raise and lower said arbor bearing members.

3. In a reel stand, a pair of vertically slidable frame members, an arbor bearing member slidably mounted upon each of said frame members, a rocker arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to each of said frame members, a camming member engaging the other end of each of said rocker arms, a shaft connecting said cammin members, and a lever to rotate said shaft w ereby said arbor bearing members will be raised by the rocking of said arms by said camming members.

4. In a reel stand, a reel arbor, arbor supports, means to rotate said reel arbor, said reel arbor being adapted to engage and support reels of varying width, each of said arbor supports being adjustable to engage4 said arbor when said arbor engages and sup ports reels of varying diameters, and while such reels are resting upon the floor, and means to simultaneously raise said arbor supports after the same haveengaged an arbor whereby the supported reel will be clear from the floor, said arbor supports raising means including a manually operable rockable lever operably connected to said arbor sup orts.

5. A reel stand comprising a pair o side frames, a reel arbor, brackets on said frames adapted to removably receive said arbor, and means to raise and lower said brackets simultaneousl and other means to raise and lower said brackets to individually adjust the same to suit various diameters of reels, and means secured to and carried by one of said brackets to engage and rotate said reel arbor in any raised position of said brackets.

6. A reel stand comprising a frame, an arbor adapted to receive reels, simultaneously and vertically movable carriers mounted upon said frame and adapted to removably receive said arbor, means to simultaneously raise said carriers, means to individually and vertically adjust said carriers relatively to said frame and to suit various diameters of reels, and means adapted to engage and rotate said arbor in any position of the same as adjusted by said carrier adjusting means.

7. In a reel stand, a frame member having a pair of uprights, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon each of said uprights, a bearing member mounted upon each of said auxiliary frames, means to adjust said bearing member longitudinally relatively to said auxiliary frame, means to raise and lower said auxlllary frames to move said bearing members, and means on one of said bearing members and connectible with a reel shaft journaled therein to rotatably drive the same.

8. In a reel stand, a frame member having a pair of uprights spaced apart to permit a reel to be disposed therebetween, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon each of said uprights, a reel shaft bearinr member slidably mounted upon each of said auxiliary frames, means to adjust said bearing member longitudinally re atively to said auxiliary frame, and means to raise and lower said auxiliary frame to move said bearing member.

9. In a reel stand, a. frame member having a pair of uprights spaced apart to permit a reel to be disposed therebetween, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon each of said uprights, a reel shaft bearin member slidably mounted upon each of sai auxiliary frames, means to adjust said bearing member longitudinally relatively to said auxiliary frame, means in engagement with each of said auxiliary frames to raise the same and to release the same to permit them to lower and means disposed adjacent one of said frame members to operate said last named means.

10. In a reel stand, a frame member having a pair of uprights spacedy apart to permit a reel to be disposed therebetween, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon each of said uprights, a bearing member slidably mounted upon each of said auxiliary frames, means to adjust said bearing member longitudinally relatively to said auxiliary frame, means adjacenteach of said frames and in engagement with each of said auxiliary frames to raise the same and to release the same to permit them to lower, and a lever arm disposed adjacent one frame and operatively associated with said last named means to raise the auxiliary frames when swung in one direction, and to control the lowering of said auxiliary frames while being swung in another direction.

11. In a reel stand, a frame member having a pair of uprights spaced apart to permit a reel to be disposed therebetween, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon each of said uprights, a bearing member slidably mounted upon each of said auxiliary frames, means to adjust said bearing member longitudinally relatively to said auxiliary frame, means pivoted to each of said frames and having pivotal engagement with each of said auxiliary frames to raise the same and to release the same to permit them to lower, and a lever arm disposed adjacent one frame and operatively associated with said last named means to raise the auxiliary frames when swung downwardly to control the lowering of the same while being swung upwardly.

12. In a reel stand, a frame member having a pair of uprights spaced apart to permit a reel to be disposed therebetween, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted u on each of said uprights, a bearing member slidably mounted .determined amount upon each of said auxiliary frames, means to adjust said bearing member longitudinal- Iy relatively to said auxiliary frame, a rocker arm pivotally mounted upon each of said uprights and pivotally secured to the adjacent auxiliary frame to raise the same and to release the same to permit it to lower, a lever arm pivotally secured to one of said uprights and means operated by said lever arm and operatively associated with each of said rocker arms to raise the auxiliary frames when said lever arm is swung in one direction, and to control the lowering of the same while said lever arm is being swung in another direction.

13. In a reel stand, a supporting frame, an auxiliary frame vertically slidable relatively to said supporting frame` a shaft bearing member mounted on said auxiliary frame and being open at the top to disengageably receive a reel shaft, means to adjust said bearing member relatively to said auxiliary frame, and means to move said auxiliary frame relatively to said supporting frame to vertically move said bearing member a predetermined amount relatively to said supporting frame whereby a reel shaft disengageably journaled in said bearing member will be engaged and raised to permit rotation of the reel.

14. In a reel stand, a supporting frame, an auxiliary frame vertically slidable relatively to said supporting frame, ashaft bearing member mounted on said auxiliary frame and being open at the top to disengageably receive a reel shaft, means to adjust said bearing member relatively to said auxiliary frame, and means to move said auxiliary frame relatively to said supporting frame to vertically move said bearing member a prerelatively to said supporting frame whereby a reel shaft disengageably journaled in said bearing member will be engaged and raised to permit rotation of the reel, said auxiliary frame moving means comprising a rockable member connected said auxiliary frame, and means to operate said rockable member.

15. In a reel stand, a. supporting frame, a shaft bearing member open at the-,top surface thereof to have an arbor removably journaled therein and being movably mounted upon said frame, a rockable member connected with said bearing member, and manually operable means to rock said member to vertically move said bearing member relatively to said frame whereby a reel arbor removably journaled in said bearing member will be engaged and raised to permit rotation of the reel.

16. In a reel stand, reel arbor supporting means vertically movable to removably engage a reel arbor, reel arbor 'driving means, said driving means being secured to said reel arbor supporting means for movement therewith' and being drivinglyconnectible to a. reel arbor removably engaged by said supportin means.

17 In a reel stand, reel arbor driving means, means to continuously drive said driving means, and vertically movable reel arbor Asupporting means, a reel arbor removabl engaged thereby upon vertical movement t ereof, and means to drivingly connect said driving Imeans to said arbor after being engaged by andwhile it is supported upon said supportingl means.

18. In a reel stand, a supporting frame, an auxiliary frame slidable relatively to said supporting frame, a bearing member'adapted to removably receive a reel arbor and being mounted on said auxiliary frame, means to adjust said bearing member relatively to said auxiliary frame, means to move said auxilary frame relatively to said supporting frame, reel arbor driving means secured to said bearing member and movable therewith, said driving means being drivingly engageable to the reel arbor removably received by said bearing member.

19. A reel stand, comprising a pair of vertically disposed frames spaced apartto permit a reel to be freely and rotatively disposed therebetween, an auxiliary frame on each frame and vertical-ly movable relatively thereto, a reel shaft bearing member vertically movable on each auxiliary frame and adapted upon vertical movement thereof to engage a reel shaft` and raise the reel from its support to permit rotation thereof, interconnected lrockable means l secured to each frame and to each auxiliary frame, and means to rock said rockable means to raise said auxiliary frames to vertically move both of said bearing members.

20. In a reel stand, a frame member having horizontally disposed and vertically spaced apart upper and lower arms extending from an edge thereof, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon said arms, a reel shaft bearing member mounted upon said auxiliary frame between said arms for vertical adjustment relatively to said frame, rockable means below said lower arm4 in engagement with said auxiliary frame to raise the same,-and swingable means to rock said rockable means. v 21. In a reel stand, a frame member having horizontally disposed and vertically spaced apart upper and lower arms extending from an edge thereof, an auxiliary frame slidably mountedv upon said arms, a reel shaft bearing member mounted upon said auxiliary frame between said arms for vertical adjustment relatively to said frame, said bearing member having a portion extending outwardly away from the aforesaid edge of said frame, said portion having a shaft receiving groove therein opening` at the top surface thereof, rockable means below said lower arm in engagement with said auxiliary frame to raise the same, and swingable means to rock said rockable means.

22. In a reel stand, a frame-member, an arbor carrier vertically slidable on said frame and adapted to removably engage an end of a reel arbor to rotatably receive the same when moved vertically on said frame, means to raise said carrier, and means secured to said carrier to rotate the arbor received thereby and including means to drivingly connect and disconnect the arbor rotating means with the arbor rotatably received by said carrier. i

23. In a device for supporting a rotatable member having a shaft, a supporting frame, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted on said supporting frame, a shaft bearing member adapted to removably receive the shaft of said rotatable member and being mounted on said auxiliary frame, means to adjust said bearing member relatively to said auxiliary frame, means to move said auxiliary frame relativeportin frames, a bearin member in front of each o said supporting rames and vertically slidable on each of said auxiliary frames, said bearin members adapted to engage andreceive t e shaft extending from said rotatable member when said rotatable member is disposed between said supporting yframes, means to move said auxiliary frames relatiyely to said supporting frames, and means disposed outside of one of said supporting frames for operating said auxiliary frame moving means, and means secured to one of said bearing members and disposed outside of one of said supporting frames to drive said rotatable member, said driving means being drivin ly engageable with the shaft of said rotata le member when the latter is engaged and received by said bearing member. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of November 1926.

BEAUFORD H. REEvEs ly to said supporting frame, rotatable mem ber shaft driving means secured to said bearing member and movable therewith, said driving means being drivingly engageable with said shaft when the same is removably received by said bearing member.

24. In a reel stand, a pair of frame members each having horizontally disposed and vertically s aced apart upper and lower arms extending rom an edge thereof, an auxiliary frame slidably mounted upon the arms of each of said frame members, a reel arbor bearing member mounted u on each of said auxiliary frames between t e arms ,of the adjacent frame member, rockable means below the lower arm of each of 'said frame members and in engagement with the auxiliary frame associated with said frame member, and swingable means adjacent one of said frame mem rs operatively connected with each of said rocka le means to rock the same and simultaneously raise said auxiliary frames.

25. In a device for supporting'a rotatable memberhaving a shaft, a pair of sup orting frames, an auxiliar frame mounted or vertical movement in ront of each of said supporting frames, a bearing member in front of each of said supporting frames and vertically slidable on each of said auxiliary frames, said bearing members adapted to engage and receive the shaft extending from said rotatable member when said rotatable member is disposed between said supporting frames, means to move said auxiliary frames relatively to said supporting frames, and means disposed outside of one of said supporting frames for operating said auxiliary frame moving means.

26. In a device for supporting a rotatable member having a shaft, a pair of supporting frames, an auxiliary frame mounted for vertical movement in front of each of said sup- 

